Ok. I don't know if I will get in trouble for this one or not, so if so, I apologize in advance.

I was asked to put together a four hour training class in reference to animal cruelty and dogfighting for my department. I feel this is awesome because my deparment doesn't really care too much about these two things, and I am the ONLY officer who makes arrests regularly for these (mostly the cruelty). Now I have the oppurtunity to get all the others on track! (I am a K9 handler for my dept.--with an awesome Mal I might add! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

The reason that I felt I would get in trouble is due to the fact that I mentioned dogfighting. I know how this board feels about it, and I wholeheartedly agree--HOWEVER, I have been searching the internet for three days now to find out what "ROM" means. I unfortunately have only seen this in referenced to illegal fighting, but I can't find it. Does anyone know what it means? and stands for? And does it pertain to other dog areas such as showing?

The only reason I am asking here is because this board does have a vast amount of knowledge. Also, maybe someone has raided an illegal ring and knows what it is.

A website that has accurate info would help too. I have two documentaries that are excellent, but they do not ever go into "terms".

Thank you.

I think it is very cool what you are doing!

Look at third from top:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&q=dog+fighting+rom&btnG=Search

Closest I can find is "Reward Of Merit"
http://www.larwass.com/coastline/terms.html

But I don't think that makes sense to what you are asking?

I think you will also find a great respect for law enforcement and K9 handlers on this board even if the topic of dog fighting has been extensively covered.

I forgot to add that ROM is a universal term not only used in dog fighting. Many breed organizations have Register of Merit awards.

One of my dogs' sire and dam are ROM dogs. Instead of winning a dog fight, they had to attain a conformation championship, herding title, and obedience title as well as producing offspring that garnered each of those titles <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Thanks everyone for the info. I didn't have a *clue* what that stood for. I do appreciate it.